🌿 The Art of Packaging: Honouring Aotearoa’s Women and Wild Beauty

At Secret Kiwi Kitchen, we believe every detail matters—especially when it comes to what wraps around our clean, all-natural baking mixes. That’s why several of our product designs proudly feature botanical illustrations created by pioneering women artists of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Long before cameras could capture the intricate beauty of native plants, women like Georgina Burne-Hetley picked up pencils and watercolours to document the unique flora and fauna of our land. Their work was more than art—it was a form of preservation, storytelling, and science. Today, as a woman-founded company deeply rooted in New Zealand, we see our packaging as a tribute to these trailblazers.

🌸 Our White Chocolate Blondie Mix: Featuring Georgina Burne Hetley’s "Mountain Lily"

Take our White Chocolate Blondie Mix, for example. The delicate white flowers dancing across the golden pouch are none other than Ranunculus lyallii, the Mountain Lily, a beloved native plant lovingly painted by Georgina Burne Hetley in the late 1800s.

Hetley’s work is part of the public domain, but her legacy is far from ordinary. Georgina’s life was far from easy. Born in England in 1832, she emigrated to Taranaki with her family and later married a fellow settler. She was widowed just a year later, left to raise her infant son alone. After losing her home during the First Taranaki War, she eventually found her way to Auckland, where she quietly pursued art while supporting her family.

Over time, Georgina became one of New Zealand’s most respected botanical illustrators. She travelled across the country, often alone, o sketch native plants in the field. Her work culminated in the publication of The Native Flowers of New Zealand in 1888, a book now considered a national treasure. It was a groundbreaking achievement considering the era’s travel constraints, gender expectations, and lack of institutional support. Hetley often travelled by horse and canoe to reach remote forests and alpine meadows, sketchbook in hand, determined to document the richness of New Zealand’s natural world.

👩🎨 Why This Matters to Us

As a woman-owned and led brand, we feel a deep connection to these early artists who carved space for themselves through talent, resilience, and an unwavering love of nature. Using their art on our packaging isn’t just a design choice—it’s an homage to the women who came before us, who saw the beauty in the land and chose to protect it in the best way they could.

Our clean-label products, made with pure New Zealand ingredients, are wrapped in packaging that honours both heritage and environment. It’s our way of saying: from the past to your pantry, this is Aotearoa, proudly shared.

Secret Kiwi Kitchen’s packaging is more than just pretty—it's a statement. A celebration of New Zealand’s wild beauty, its powerful women, and a commitment to natural, transparent food. Every time you pick up one of our mixes, you're not just baking—you’re joining a story.